CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

FULL ADVANTAGE OF AN ERROR.

(By THE FOUR ACES,) Raymond Balfe, of New York, probably manufactures more swings than any other expert player. Even Mr. Balfe admits that sometimes the swings are against liim, but frequently he obtains result* which no other player would ever get. South dealer. East-Went vulnerable.

The Bidding. South West North East I* 14(1) 14 2* (2) Pass (3) 54, (4) Dbl. (o) Pass Pasta Pass

(1) A doubtful overcall. (2) East, with his tremendous hand, is afraid of a misfit. (3) A very costly error. We«t should have bid three Heart*, since, even though his overall was a minimum, he had strong distribuional support for the suit which his partner ad been willing to bid at the range of two ulnerable. (4) Technically unsound, but a highly sucessful stratagem. Mr. Balffc was afraid that f he bid four Clubs only, East would bid •rain. Of course the jump to five Clubs risked lie danger of a slam bid by South, but here ,1 r. Halfc happened to know that his partner his ultra-conservative. (.">) East is afraid to bid live Hearts. At he same time lie feels that his hand is so tiong that tlie live-Club hid will he set. Against the doubled five-Club contract \\Jest ipencil the King of Spade*. Declarer ruffed, •laved two rounds of trum|iK. and led a low leart. East won with the King and another which declarer ruffed. Declarer now uffed his remaining two Hearts in dummy, ind eventually conceded a Diamond trick, naking his five-odd doubled. East and West had an absolute lav-down >f five Hearts, and would have made six except igainst the double-dummy defence of a Club >penlng and a Spade return. Mr. Ralfe's very itron<r bidding had created a tremendous iwing for his side. — (Copyright: X.A.N.A.)